tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23718764502162578152024-03-14T12:48:36.858-04:00I Know My GuideUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger247125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2371876450216257815.post-54626938901308670612014-10-04T15:53:00.002-04:002014-10-04T15:53:55.169-04:00Diversifying Your Bookshelf<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You asked, so here it is. I put together these book recommendations with the help of some amazing women I met at the CCDA conference. I haven't read all the books on this list, but I have heard some of the authors speak in person, read their blogs, or listened to lectures they have given that are available online. It is a strategy I use to keep up with diverse perspectives even when I can't keep up with my ever-growing reading list. Some of the books are new to me, which just means that my reading list is now even longer. =)<br />
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I also wanted to include a few authors from the Global South. Pedagogy of the Oppressed is one of my favorite books, and not just because the author is Brazilian. =)</div>
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*with John Perkins outside the convention center*</div>
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Jeremiah 29:4-7 </div>
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“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare."</blockquote>
The central passage for the the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) conference this year was Jeremiah 29, which also happened to the be one of the central passages for Northside Church's retreat earlier this year. I've spent a lot of time camped out in this passage so far in 2014. <br />
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This post could be about of lot of things related to the CCDA conference. I could write about God's provision and the ways I was encouraged, restored, and challenged. I could write about the new friendships I formed with people seeking the flourishing of their cities in the name of Jesus Christ around the United States. Instead I am just going to share some of the words from speakers I heard that challenged me or made me think. <br />
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First, in morning Bible study, Coach challenged everyone to read books by minority authors, and not just John Perkins. Take a moment now and think of the last book or article you read that was not written by a white man. <br />
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While at Eastern, I was assigned lots of writings by a diverse group of authors, but I must admit that recently I have been reading books that are typical for a member of a PCA church, namely those written by Tim Keller. I accept the challenge for myself, will you consider also adding some minority authors to your reading list? <br />
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And now for some quotes, or actually paraphrases. My notes are not awesome because there was so much good stuff being said. <br />
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1. Holes in the gospel have accommodated racism and bigotry.... Ain't no room in the gospel for racism, but we have accommodated it. - John Perkins<br />
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2. People ask me, "What is the relationship between the gospel and reconciliation?" That's what the gospel is, fool! - John Perkins<br />
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3. We are part of the sin we are preaching against. - Theology Panelist<br />
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4. The veneer that we call reconciliation creates deeper damage. - Rehabbing Reconciliation Workshop<br />
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5. Please beware of paternalism, the sneaking enemy of true flourishing. - Ruth Padilla DeBorst<br />
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I could keep going, but those are just a few for your consideration. If you live in Richmond, and want to hear more, I'd love to get together, preferably over coffee. =)<br />
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Lastly, check out the CCDA worship team including David Bailey and several others from Richmond praising God in Spanish. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/fjjqk3wvmj0" width="560"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2371876450216257815.post-51722016147580014512014-08-23T23:15:00.000-04:002014-08-23T23:15:45.028-04:00New Blog Title: I Know My GuideI created this blog just after I was appointed as a missionary to South Sudan with World Harvest Mission, hence the name: <div>
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Immeasurably More WHM</div>
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<a href="http://immeasurablymorewhm.blogspot.com/">immeasurablymorewhm.blogspot.com</a></div>
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and the description: <div>
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Engineers like to measure things, and I am no exception. In my sin, I continue to try to put God in a box and define what He can accomplish. In God's grace and mercy, He continues to show that He is IMMEASURABLY MORE. </div>
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I wrote that description eight years ago (yikes)! <div>
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World Harvest Mission has rebranded to Serge: Grace at the Fray, and I am in a new season of life in the Northside of Richmond. </div>
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It was time for a change. </div>
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I went the quick and simple route for making this change, which may cause problems if anyone has saved links to any of my previous posts. It also means that all my previous posts can be accessed easily from <a href="http://iknowmyguide.blogspot.com/">iknowmyguide.blogspot.com</a>. I suspect that most of my readers are friends and family, so I don't think it will be a problem. =) </div>
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The new title comes from the song "His Love Can Never Fail," which was a team favorite in South Sudan. I sing the first verse in my head often, and it is written on a kitenge wall hanging in my room. </div>
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<b>I do not ask to see the way </b></div>
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<b>My feet will have to tread; </b></div>
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<b>But only that my soul may feed </b></div>
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<b>Upon the living Bread. </b></div>
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<b>'Tis better far that I should walk </b></div>
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<b>By faith close to His side; </b></div>
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<b>I may not know the way I go, but oh, I know my Guide. </b></div>
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The new title is also more transferable, so no matter where God guides me in the future, I can keep the same blog title! This is a very desirable feature for a global nomad/TCK with two occupations listed on her LinkedIn profile. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2371876450216257815.post-56735660756878382872014-07-14T22:12:00.000-04:002014-07-14T22:12:00.765-04:00Being A MisfitA few weeks ago I had to get fitted for a respirator for my new job. At the doctor's office I had the following conversation with a nurse.<br />
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Nurse: What is your race?<br />
Me: What are the options?<br />
Nurse: African American, Mexican American, and Caucasian. <br />
Me: .... None of those apply.<br />
Nurse: So what is your race?<br />
Me: I usually choose Latina or Hispanic. Is "other" an option?<br />
Nurse: No.<br />
Me: Can you leave it blank?<br />
Nurse. No, it is required to continue with the test.<br />
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In the end, I let the nurse make a choice after I explained to her my background. I'm really not even sure which she chose since she looked at how her choice impacted the results of my baseline lung capacity test. With only those three options, A LOT of people were excluded. My background isn't even that complex, and I couldn't figure out what to choose. <br />
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Checking a box on a form seems like a simple thing, but not having a option to choose can make you feel like a misfit and out of step with the norm. I have grown to embrace and really even love many of the things that make me a misfit. However, in a season of trying to navigate lots of transition, I appreciate moments when things make sense and when I feel like I fit. One of those moments was being reunited with many former teammates as we celebrated John and Jenn's marriage. We misfit together. =)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5vc9DY6R1F_BMhS81blQdoOQoCk8_LRcrkACfuol-4qbA3PgjltQq7PnkqH65NjGZep6ZuC8GoLF9KqzT2TAjAM6KVz8YbCexnCrtlCsU7piSmvqDlgNjp-bT42KJMYz3Egxk7fdaM0/s1600/IMG_2755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5vc9DY6R1F_BMhS81blQdoOQoCk8_LRcrkACfuol-4qbA3PgjltQq7PnkqH65NjGZep6ZuC8GoLF9KqzT2TAjAM6KVz8YbCexnCrtlCsU7piSmvqDlgNjp-bT42KJMYz3Egxk7fdaM0/s1600/IMG_2755.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2371876450216257815.post-85368264880050320302014-07-08T20:17:00.001-04:002014-07-09T07:11:11.251-04:00Three Years AgoOn July 9th, 2011, I rejoiced. It was a distinct privilege to be in South Sudan on its very first independence day dancing, praying, and celebrating with a new nation.<br />
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I <a href="http://immeasurablymorewhm.blogspot.com/2011/07/dancers-who-dance-upon-injustice.html" target="_blank">danced upon injustice </a>with men and women from many different tribes united in their joy.<br />
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I heard a dear friend share <a href="http://immeasurablymorewhm.blogspot.com/2011/07/scripture-for-new-nation.html" target="_blank">a scripture for a new nation </a>urging the country to have hope and rebuild on the strong foundation left by the church in South Sudan. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz2gFX12hTnRzdDDiyFmlaBaDlIXhyiefcNiAokP_H9DZorsHFLpxkfrxKncs99NHoqAqfWIwcsTYbAQdSEhWJmT3R-vPAWVvHXJWv7VOUpdEq0R09-spKrTNm7gf1WghVt8jBkBdX6a8/s1600/teak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz2gFX12hTnRzdDDiyFmlaBaDlIXhyiefcNiAokP_H9DZorsHFLpxkfrxKncs99NHoqAqfWIwcsTYbAQdSEhWJmT3R-vPAWVvHXJWv7VOUpdEq0R09-spKrTNm7gf1WghVt8jBkBdX6a8/s1600/teak.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Job 14:7-9</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">“At least there is hope for a tree:</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"> If it is cut down, it will sprout again,</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"> and its new shoots will not fail.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Its roots may grow old in the ground</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"> and its stump die in the soil,</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">yet at the scent of water it will bud</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"> and put forth shoots like a plant."</span><br />
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Only three years later, the Fund for Peace named South Sudan the world's most fragile state. The BBC reports that 4 million will face critical food shortages in the next month. By many accounts, the development gains made by the new nation over the last 8 years since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005 have been lost in the space of less than 8 months. <br />
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The reality of how much has changed in so short a time grieves my heart. Yet I know that the hope I had on South Sudan's independence day is unchanged. I have hope because my Savior defeated death, because of the power of the Cross. And I know that there are many faithful South Sudanese Christians proclaiming the Gospel of Peace even now as they face new trials. So I still pray boldly and ask that you also continue to pray.<br />
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<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Jennifer shared <a href="http://paradoxuganda.blogspot.com/2014/07/and-give-you-peace.html" target="_blank">this prayer on her blog</a> and I will echo it here. </span><br />
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<b><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">"Please
pray for God's peace in East Africa. Meaning real peace, real dealing
with fear, protective reprisals, greed, hate. Kenya, South Sudan, and
Uganda all need the Gospel that breaks down dividing walls of hostility,
that gives people true harmony in diversity as the many tribes reflect
God's infinite complexity and yet also God's trinitarian unity." </span></b><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2371876450216257815.post-56284244266581821142014-06-02T20:41:00.000-04:002014-06-02T20:53:58.712-04:00Bishop Bismark and Rina in Richmond! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidoza1iCskSL7eXwxVZGHmP0-_qBmqqxDYNXBAEf3Ahe4cPDf5zDOMsJQ8TfD4xAF8WOqt6uUq74R5SYq5YDvYAwwXhhOcUdSZQKqsoRtWi2Hv8Ih6G3K1lwfm5mhDeENT0tHyBgRDcRs/s1600/1467437_10152069248986081_1839303059_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidoza1iCskSL7eXwxVZGHmP0-_qBmqqxDYNXBAEf3Ahe4cPDf5zDOMsJQ8TfD4xAF8WOqt6uUq74R5SYq5YDvYAwwXhhOcUdSZQKqsoRtWi2Hv8Ih6G3K1lwfm5mhDeENT0tHyBgRDcRs/s1600/1467437_10152069248986081_1839303059_n.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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*Goodbyes at the airstrip on my last day in Mundri, South Sudan. </div>
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There were smiles, but there were also tears.*</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW5qdni1B793N_IwTagIyEjvhs3Sgpz_EUJ4EvGNZWUMbY35bRb7zPlfUE7g45yxv7amqdNKMg2H5xvDlZaZAwqOi7CIzo3qaXS1OncbWq4brkEAxIJ6ZuEtUuUuoKgs7yuul9m1ax9e8/s1600/WEPCBishopRina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW5qdni1B793N_IwTagIyEjvhs3Sgpz_EUJ4EvGNZWUMbY35bRb7zPlfUE7g45yxv7amqdNKMg2H5xvDlZaZAwqOi7CIzo3qaXS1OncbWq4brkEAxIJ6ZuEtUuUuoKgs7yuul9m1ax9e8/s1600/WEPCBishopRina.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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*Just six months later at my sending church in Richmond, Virginia*</div>
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Our primary ministry partners, next door neighbors, and most importantly, dear friends, are in Richmond, Virginia! </div>
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There will be a dessert reception at WEPC on Sunday, <b>June 8th </b>at 6 PM in the Fellowship Hall. </div>
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Bishop Bismark will also be preaching at WEPC on<b> June 15th</b>.</div>
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<b>If you live in the Richmond area, I strongly encourage you take advantage of these unique opportunities to meet Bishop and Rina and to hear Bishop preach. </b><br />
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Seriously, this is an amazing opportunity for those living in the Richmond area. The church in America has a lot to learn from the South Sudanese church. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2371876450216257815.post-32381147845925809652014-05-31T21:19:00.000-04:002014-06-01T15:37:44.744-04:00Change and Rootedness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBT4uFDlVEmsMOvgYeun50KI21wGBGhxISh2i8kO04V1HyTWilWh3inOihyphenhyphenp11HdVmmQiTZY8Zi8DX7e4akIpDs_QeHoDR0AgkJfCUJz3DQnrUj3hOITJGz3vZXRtt5vYujMh2LerUPw/s1600/IMG_2660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBT4uFDlVEmsMOvgYeun50KI21wGBGhxISh2i8kO04V1HyTWilWh3inOihyphenhyphenp11HdVmmQiTZY8Zi8DX7e4akIpDs_QeHoDR0AgkJfCUJz3DQnrUj3hOITJGz3vZXRtt5vYujMh2LerUPw/s1600/IMG_2660.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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A few days ago one of the leaders of the community group I attend called to discuss some changes that are going to happen in the fall. While I have only been a part of this group for a few months, they have been meeting consistently for three years. In the middle of the conversation, I was again reminded that change has become my norm. I'm used to the pattern of diving in deep with people for a season fully expecting that the community dynamics will change soon. Don't get me wrong, I long for stability, but since I first got on a plane to S. Sudan in early 2009, I have lived with a revolving door in my primary community. Plus I'm an <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/regajha/31-signs-youre-a-third-culture-kid" target="_blank">ATCK</a>. I'm used to change.<br />
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At Northside Church's annual retreat a few weeks ago, the speaker, Tim Rice, spoke on the topic of rootedness. He described some problems that can arise when there is significant transience and instability in community and ministry. <br />
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A lack of rootedness:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Makes it difficult to get traction on deep systemic problems</li>
<li>Undercuts trust and relational ministry</li>
<li>Leads to a focus on programs not people</li>
</ul>
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Tim boldly said that "given the need of the hour, our generation needs to be rooted unless God makes it very clear he is calling us somewhere else." You can make long-term plans if you are rooted, even plans that span across generations in a community, and that is what is needed to seek the shalom of a community. <br />
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I was encouraged to hear Tim talk about rootedness in the U.S. context, particularly after studying the benefits of stability in international development ministries. I agreed with so much of what Tim shared, but it was also hard to hear in this season of life for me. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJ5SStDlmemdkkU2kYD-q6s3ZB94r18HTfjwT3yFxgcklEYAJ7wZ3gx-jVRRiSdU8rvtouqqpLCHebMfvu5rACwMI9cNjW-d1DzAa3uAKOaXxAvWVR0Nnm6UppGJ1TvIaufFzEjQdGD0/s1600/teak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJ5SStDlmemdkkU2kYD-q6s3ZB94r18HTfjwT3yFxgcklEYAJ7wZ3gx-jVRRiSdU8rvtouqqpLCHebMfvu5rACwMI9cNjW-d1DzAa3uAKOaXxAvWVR0Nnm6UppGJ1TvIaufFzEjQdGD0/s1600/teak.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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*teak tree in S. Sudan with new shoots emerging from old roots*</div>
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After leaving S. Sudan in November, I pursued rootedness. I had no idea where God would lead me, but I did know I wanted to make a long-term commitment to a community for many of the reasons Tim outlined at the retreat. After exploring MANY different paths, God brought me back to Richmond, VA, and in particular, to Northside Church, a church plant that seems to be collecting returned missionaries. <br />
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Northside is about intentional community. Having experienced the kind of really hard but really good community forged by missionaries living cross-culturally, I knew I wanted more of it. Of course, community life will look different in the Northside of Richmond since we aren't all living together in the 100+ degree South Sudanese heat with no AC. Let me assure you that the sinning against one another increases with the heat. But even in Richmond, a group of people can live in close and intentional community in such a way that they are sinning against one another but also repenting and forgiving one another, growing in grace and Christ-likeness. <br />
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It is worth repeating. Community life is hard, but oh so good!<br />
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What makes the idea of rootedness hard in this season is that God provided a job in water and wastewater engineering that is a great fit for my skills, but it involves significant travel. I am used to travel, but it means that I am writing this post now from a hotel room 300 miles away from the place where I long to be rooted. <br />
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I am thankful that God brought me from the missions field to a group of people in the Northside of Richmond that are pursing rootedness and intentional community. Even if in this season I cannot be rooted in the way that I had hoped, I am thankful that this group of people considers me theirs and prays for me even when it has been weeks since I was able to attend community group. <br />
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Ultimately, the stability I have longed for as I crossed oceans repeatedly and said goodbye A LOT can only truly be found in God, eternal and unchanging. I am His and He is with me no matter where on this plant I happen to be calling "home" at the moment. That is good news for everyone, but especially for this global nomad, returned missionary, ATCK that can't write the word "home" without using quotes. <br />
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And for now the fact that I hung my tapestry with notes from my Fall 2011 WHM S. Sudan teammates on a wall opposite my world map means that the Northside of Richmond is "home". <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2371876450216257815.post-13232878444771501442014-03-29T10:49:00.000-04:002014-03-30T08:44:39.797-04:00Easy Answers<div>
When I meet new people and they ask me simple getting to know you questions, I often get overwhelmed. In this last season of transition, answering those questions was particularly complicated to the point that friends who know me well sometimes stepped in, breaking the awkward silence and summarizing for me. =) </div>
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Stranger: "Where are you from?" </div>
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Christine: "Well.... Connecticut, Florida, Virginia, Brazil, but most recently South Sudan... I'm a TCK... Nowhere... I've lived a lot of places..." </div>
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Stranger: "Isn't there an active conflict in South Sudan?"</div>
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Christine: "..."</div>
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Stranger: "What do you do?"</div>
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Christine: "Well...I'm a missionary, community development, facilitator, water engineer...." </div>
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Stranger: *insert several follow up questions here*</div>
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*Visiting the city water system in Lui, South Sudan*</div>
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But now, for the first time in a long time I have simple, easy answers to getting to know you questions. I just started a new job, so now when I introduce myself I can say "Hi. My name is Christine, and I'm a water/wastewater engineer from Richmond, Virginia." The End. =) Of course, there is more to that answer, like there is for most people, but the simple version is a good representation of this new season of life for me. I enjoy sharing my story and talking about South Sudan, but sometimes I just want to have an easy answer and pay for my groceries. =)</div>
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I'm thankful for the new job God has provided, and I'm thankful that at least for now, I have easier answers to basic getting to know you questions. I'm also thankful for great friends who know me well and know the much longer versions to those questions!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2371876450216257815.post-68658813413094323742014-02-18T10:54:00.000-05:002014-02-18T16:48:54.834-05:00Opportunities of a Job SearchMy job search could be just that, a job search, but recently I've been considering what I might miss if I walked through this season on autopilot. I spend a large part of my days reading job descriptions, writing cover letters, and networking. But the real story of this season thus far has been about my community in Richmond. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5OnN7cDBOcCPhkHVhGc0sefmlFPViGBMLqZGRtA6GVpWivZezGdD5Yimy_byfeTJ4ANcHJMGm9-o2Or_apAsTKEb6XadPVfH02WEhxKwm_VxPKi3eNqvUtfI2fxp77jyJiHOsStWjX8/s1600/job+wanted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5OnN7cDBOcCPhkHVhGc0sefmlFPViGBMLqZGRtA6GVpWivZezGdD5Yimy_byfeTJ4ANcHJMGm9-o2Or_apAsTKEb6XadPVfH02WEhxKwm_VxPKi3eNqvUtfI2fxp77jyJiHOsStWjX8/s1600/job+wanted.jpg" /></a></div>
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My church community has loved me so well in this season of unemployment. I've had countless conversations with people who have taken the time to ask for details on the type of jobs I'm seeking. I have had friends refer me to hiring managers. I have had friends who have listened to me share the difficulties of looking for a job in the middle of a big life transition. I have had friends take in to their home with amazing hospitality and generosity. I have had many friends speak an encouraging word when I was discouraged. I could go on and on. =)<br />
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God's provision and love for me in the midst this season of unemployment has been truly amazing. God has not yet provided a job, but he provided an opportunity for my community to love and serve me and for me to receive that blessing. God also provided a reason for me to reach out and share my story with as many people as possible as I network in search of a job when my tendency in the middle of hard transition would have been towards solitude. <br />
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Everyone's experience of unemployment is unique, and mine certainly isn't typical. I don't know how long this season of unemployment will be, but at this moment, I'm thankful for this season of unemployment even though there are many things that are hard about being a job seeker.<br />
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Excerpt from <i>The Hiding Place</i> by Corrie Ten Boom:<br />
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"Thank You," Betsie went on serenely, "for the fleas and for--"</blockquote>
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"The fleas!" This was too much. "Betsie, there's no way even God can make me grateful for a flea."</blockquote>
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"'Give thanks in all circumstances,'" she quoted. "It doesn't say, 'in pleasant circumstances.' Fleas are part of this place where God has put us."</blockquote>
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And so we stood between tiers of bunks and gave thanks for fleas. But this time I was sure Betsie was wrong.</blockquote>
If you haven't read <i>The Hiding Place</i>, I highly recommend it, and you will get to whole story of the fleas.<br />
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I've been sharing about my own experiences as a job seeker, but this post would feel incomplete to me if I didn't mention that work is a complex issue. In particular, when someone says work, they often exclude all the work done in society that doesn't produce taxable income. Work is a part of a person's identity as made in the image of God and is big topic. Too big for my blog. =)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2371876450216257815.post-20315285690012925912014-02-05T08:29:00.002-05:002014-02-05T08:33:17.096-05:00Fireless Cookers and Informed GivingI am a BIG fan of appropriate technology solutions, particularly when they are created by the end users themselves.<br />
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Today on Amazon there was a story about a product called<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=amb_link_398553662_4?ie=UTF8&docId=1001926021&nav_sdd=aps&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-B1&pf_rd_r=1AC5MQG9QM51FG955MPM&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1720768342&pf_rd_i=507846" target="_blank"> Wonderbag</a> with the tag line "one of thousands of innovators changing the world on Amazon." Of course, my interest was piqued, and I had to learn more. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzm8PWUydFgH7p18Ca7eQV-Ddcu2RUFsD8GfSSGTqtjSHhQ28WOFGkCzW23McxOn6BJvF7X7nJEc3gkm1Nt5fcuyJNQjNaqrUiL1mVFewaSisqN2lO_RmrH8A4XsYbkaViN7mwN-3QMc/s1600/Wonderbag_Foil._V361918525_.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzm8PWUydFgH7p18Ca7eQV-Ddcu2RUFsD8GfSSGTqtjSHhQ28WOFGkCzW23McxOn6BJvF7X7nJEc3gkm1Nt5fcuyJNQjNaqrUiL1mVFewaSisqN2lO_RmrH8A4XsYbkaViN7mwN-3QMc/s1600/Wonderbag_Foil._V361918525_.png" height="172" width="640" /></a></div>
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Immediately I thought, "Hey, I have something remarkably similar in the trunk of my car." At the moment, I don't have a kitchen, so my car has become storage.=) <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgleJu1uhtXZliT6WhLuHhw809sPWUCGgRtUYlWOP2Agb7fcBXM8IvXpWzpiHoLUO_vzUBylTNmNhVkuurWGkvKk73CaZkO3LGCoRnGmWYKMvKeCiIKth-bQ8f3k8u__XmtZxgvfHgjvIM/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgleJu1uhtXZliT6WhLuHhw809sPWUCGgRtUYlWOP2Agb7fcBXM8IvXpWzpiHoLUO_vzUBylTNmNhVkuurWGkvKk73CaZkO3LGCoRnGmWYKMvKeCiIKth-bQ8f3k8u__XmtZxgvfHgjvIM/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Mine is handmade and was purchased several years ago from a Kenyan woman. While there are some design differences, they are remarkably similar products. The Wonderbag definitely allows for more flexibility in pot size, which is a plus. The engineer in me wants to do a side by side comparison of heat loss over time. =) Our team has used fireless cookers like mine to make yogurt, cook beans, and keep food warm for years. </div>
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The fireless cooker is not a new idea. Appropriate technology solutions to global problems are being used by smart and resourceful people around the world, and sometimes they make it to U.S. markets and are called a great new innovation. I don't know if I would call it innovative, but I do highly recommend fireless cookers! </div>
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It really is a fabulous cooking tool, and you can probably make one yourself for a lot less than $50. If you would like to purchase a Wonderbag because you aren't crafty and Amazon delivers it right to your door, go for it! But if you are purchasing a Wonderbag because the idea of having one donated to a family in Africa appeals to you, I suggest you do a little research first. It took me about 15 minutes to find the answers to these questions online. </div>
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1. Where are the bags manufactured? Who is being employed to make the product? </div>
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2. Is there follow-up for those who have received a free Wonderbag to ensure proper usage? *</div>
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3. Did they do their homework? Are they measuring results? **</div>
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I'd love to know a whole lot more about their theory of change, sustainability, and local markets, but finding answers to those questions would have taken longer than 15 minutes. =)</div>
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<b>But it really doesn't take long to find out the basics, and you don't need a degree in International Development be an informed consumer and giver! </b></div>
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And if you are waiting for the part of the post where I tell you if buying a Wonderbag will make a difference, it isn't coming. Wonderbag may have a positive economic, environmental, and social impact on the community. Or it might not. I don't know enough, and even if I knew everything I wanted to know, it would still be hard to make that kind of definitive statement<b>. </b> But there are best practices out there including manufacturing locally, following up especially when things are given for free, and measuring results. </div>
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Want to make your own basket? Here is <a href="http://practicalaction.org/fireless-cooker" target="_blank">one design that is very similar to my own basket</a>, but there are MANY others. </div>
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*Keeping food at lower temperatures for extended periods of time can increase bacteria growth, which is great for making yogurt, but not great if you are serving a meat dish and don't heat to the proper temperature. </div>
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**Measuring impact (including spiritual metrics for Christian development practitioners) is often extremely challenging, but worth it in my opinion. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2371876450216257815.post-74888219822992192342014-01-29T12:02:00.001-05:002014-01-29T12:02:26.700-05:00Hope in South SudanSouth Sudan has dropped out of the news a bit over the last week after the news of a ceasefire agreement. While I was happy to hear this news, I wanted to share some additional points to consider for those who are praying for the newest nation in the world.<br />
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<li>As many as half a million people have been displaced within South Sudan and in neighboring nations</li>
<li>As many as 10,000 may have been killed in this recent conflict</li>
<li>The displaced are at tremendous risk for disease and severe malnutrition </li>
<li>Infrastructure that was built up in the last decade in the areas where the active conflict has been taking place has been destroyed in the space of less than two months</li>
<li>Some of the aid including food and medicines being sent to refugee and IDP camps has been stolen, never reaching the most vulnerable</li>
<li>Many of those displaced in this recent conflict were previously displaced by the civil war in Sudan and had returned to South Sudan with hope for peace and development sometime after the peace agreement of 2005 or independence in 2011</li>
<li>It is unlikely that the displaced, who have endured long and expensive journeys to safety, will return to their homes anytime soon due to continued uncertainty and insecurity as well as the fact that many are unsure what still stands in their towns and villages</li>
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A ceasefire is a great step for the region, but it isn't that simple. South Sudan has been a nation filled with hope following the end of decades of civil war, but in the face of these recent losses, hope isn't easy.<b> But the church in South Sudan is strong and filled with faithful men and women like Bishop and Rina! </b><br />
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<b>So continue to pray that this ceasefire would lead to lasting peace, and also pray boldly for a deeper reconciliation and unity that comes from the gospel. Pray for hope in Christ who is victorious over death and brokenness. </b> <br />
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Also for those who have asked, Mundri is not one of the regions where there has been active fighting, but there has been an impact on the region with the disruption of services and supply chains, soldiers passing through, etc. <br />
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Disclaimer: This information is compiled from what I have read from various news outlets (including those based in East Africa) over the last weeks and filtered through my own experiences in South Sudan. <b>I love South Sudan, but I am not South Sudanese, so if you have a chance, talk and pray with someone from South Sudan. </b></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2371876450216257815.post-39702723654885549802014-01-22T13:16:00.000-05:002014-01-23T08:11:56.316-05:00Transition AttacksThis week for the first time since returning to the U.S. I have experienced the tell-tale signs of a missionary navigating yet another transition. <br />
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I titled this post transition attacks, but that it is what it feels like, an attack. I'm just walking along, going through my day, and all of a sudden I can't make a basic decision or I'm overwhelmed by emotion that significantly exceeds the magnitude of the trigger. </div>
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Why this week? The whirlwind of leaving South Sudan, finishing grad school, and moving to Richmond is over. More importantly, the recent violence in South Sudan has lasted over a month. It isn't new, and so the shock is over and the grief has started in earnest. </div>
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This transition in particular has come with a lot of grief and there has been little time until now to mourn the losses. </div>
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I'm thankful that there are people in my life who are right there with me in this season. I'm not happy that they are also grieving, but there is great comfort in being known, and these women know my heart because it looks a lot like their own. There is even greater comfort that Jesus, "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief," knows my heart. (Isaiah 53:3)</div>
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Those who asked about South Sudan or any number of other topics related to my transition back to life in the U.S. probably found me at a loss for words this week. It has been a Beams of Heaven kind of week, clinging to hope even when Satan's cause seems to gain. So thank you to all who have shown me (and my teammates) grace in this season of uncertainty and transition. <br />
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Additional Note: There are hard and sad moments when I feel the way I described above, particularly after reading news about South Sudan, but it is a normal part of transition in these circumstances. I really am doing well.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2371876450216257815.post-15032344521599861462014-01-13T13:59:00.001-05:002014-01-13T13:59:14.024-05:00Door Half Open<div>
If you have been reading my blog over the last few years, you may have seen that stability, or rather instability, has been a big theme. So when I had to leave South Sudan earlier than expected, I choose to return to Richmond to be able to attend my home church and be near friends in search of a little stability. </div>
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It has been a whirlwind few months saying goodbye to South Sudan, finishing my graduate degree, reading about the recent conflict in South Sudan from afar, driving up and down the east coast a few times, and starting my job search. Through all of this, God has faithfully been my guide, providing exactly what I needed in each moment. This week though, I started to feel a bit lost. </div>
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Why? Because the door to being able to move to Richmond and have some stability has remained half open. It isn't closed. But it also isn't open. Some things are falling into place in a way that I couldn't have imagined possible, and I'm really excited about some of the opportunities God seems to be opening up for ministry in Richmond. As much as I'm excited about all these things, the reality is that to be able to move to Richmond, I need a full-time paid job, ideally in the non-profit sector. I've pursued several different options, but the door remains only half open. </div>
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I've started looking for jobs in other cities, but the half open in door in Richmond complicates things for me. What does it look like to patiently wait on the Lord and not stubbornly wait for my own desires? Is there anything else I can do in pursuit of a job in Richmond? </div>
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Clearly I long for more stability, particularly in community and friendships, so the moment Steve spoke the word stability in his sermon yesterday, he had my undivided attention. </div>
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"The very foundation, the thing that holds us up, the thing that gives us stability, the thing from which we draw nutrition, all of that, is the love of Christ. </blockquote>
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If you do not feel, if you do not understand the love of Christ, there will be no stability in your life." ~ Pastor Steve </blockquote>
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<a href="http://www.wepc.org/jan-12-2014-worship-guide-know-the-love-of-christ/">http://www.wepc.org/jan-12-2014-worship-guide-know-the-love-of-christ/</a></blockquote>
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Talk about perfect timing. Yesterday I needed to be reminded of the gospel and repent of the ways I had been seeking stability outside of the love of Christ. </div>
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I'm still uncertain of a lot of things, including whether God will fully open the door to be able to live in Richmond, but my stability does not come from being a part of a particular community, my stability comes from the love the Christ. </div>
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Of course there are believers in Richmond, South Sudan, and around the world that are experiencing far more uncertainty and instability than I am in this season. My prayer is that they would also have the stability that comes with truly knowing the love of Christ. </div>
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This post seems like it could be part two of what God has been teaching me about His sufficiency in my life, particularly as it relates to community. Check out my post from October on the reality of community if you missed it. </div>
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<a href="http://immeasurablymorewhm.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-reality-of-community.html">http://immeasurablymorewhm.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-reality-of-community.html</a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2371876450216257815.post-71257882842358038742013-12-21T00:32:00.000-05:002013-12-21T07:31:43.474-05:00Prayer for PeaceI have been meaning to write a post about the recent events in South Sudan, but honestly, I have been overwhelmed....<br />
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Overwhelmed by the daily email alerts on the current situation in South Sudan<br />
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Overwhelmed by the contrast between the last week for my friends in South Sudan and the last week for my friends in the United States<br />
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This week the gap between the already and the not yet just seems overwhelmingly large...<br />
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But as I am reminded that the world is not yet as it should be, I am also reminded in this season of advent that Jesus is the Prince of Peace.<br />
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The faith and hope of my South Sudanese friends has often been greater than my own. Jesus defeated death, and the church in South Sudan, that has known so much suffering, proclaims this boldly. <br />
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Now as I read the recent news of violence in South Sudan, I know that the church in South Sudan is continuing to proclaim the gospel of peace as they long for what is to come, a day when there will be no more death or war. <br />
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So I ask that churches around the world join the South Sudanese in praying for immediate peace and reconciliation in South Sudan. <br />
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<b>Truly He taught us</b></div>
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<b>to love one another;</b></div>
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<b>His law is love and</b></div>
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<b>His gospel is peace.</b></div>
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<b>Chains shall He break</b></div>
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<b>for the slave is our brother</b></div>
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<b>And in His name</b></div>
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<b>all oppression shall cease.</b></div>
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<b>~ O Holy Night</b></div>
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*rainbow over South Sudan from my flight out of Mundri in November*</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2371876450216257815.post-81898978326597332782013-10-27T07:19:00.000-04:002013-10-27T07:19:23.410-04:00The Equatorial Sun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The best word I can use to describe the equatorial sun in South Sudan is INTENSE. I spend my days trying to hide from the sun under trees, in the shadow created by a large vehicle, under my hat, etc. Some days the sun actually hurts my skin. Michael is known for his sayings including "Never underestimate the power of the equatorial sun to reduce productivity." </div>
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In the middle of the day when the sun is scorching the clothes on the drying line, the plants in the garden, and my skin, I try to remember the INTENSE BEAUTY that comes as a result. I have seen many beautiful sunsets, but nothing quite compares to the glow cast on everything by the setting sun in equatorial Africa. I wish you could all see with your own eyes the intensely beautiful sunrises and sunsets of South Sudan, but for now, a few pictures from the last month will have to do. =)</div>
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*Sunrise on an early morning walk with Larissa*</div>
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*Women greeting each other on the road at sunset*</div>
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I love the orange sunsets on the main road after a truck has kicked up some dust!</div>
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*Sunset at dinner time* </div>
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I ran to get my camera, but I wish I had a picture of what the sky looked like just two minutes earlier. Intense color!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2371876450216257815.post-11814261948662920622013-10-12T03:38:00.000-04:002013-10-12T03:38:04.674-04:00The Reality of Community I have heard that most missionaries leave the field because of team conflict. Yes, it is true that ministry can be challenging, cross-cultural interactions can be confusing, and the living conditions may be hard, but the greatest challenges often lie in living and serving with other sinful Christians. <br />
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Our team has had our share of conflict over the last few weeks, and while it has been hard, as we address the conflict, admit sin, repent, show grace, and forgive, it has also been restorative and part of God’s sanctifying work in each of our lives. This has definitely been true for me over the last week in particular.<br />
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I have been rereading Bonhoeffer’s Life Together over the last few days, and it has been both encouraging and convicting. This little book is just packed with goodness. I will only mention a couple of things here, so I highly recommend reading and rereading the whole book. <br />
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So what have I been learning?<br />
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First, I am weak, and other Christians can be a tremendous blessing to me in my weakness.<br />
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“Therefore the Christian needs another Christian who speaks God's Word to him.... The Christ in his own heart is weaker than the Christ in the word of his brother; his own heart is uncertain, his brother's is sure. And that also clarifies the goal of all Christian community: they meet one another as bringers of the message of salvation.” p. 23<br />
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“Do we really think there is a single person in this world who does not need either encouragement or admonition?” p. 106<br />
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Secondly, community is a GIFT from God. It is not guaranteed to the Christian. God is the All-Sufficient One. While it is very good for me to have Christian community, I do not NEED community. <br />
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“It is easily forgotten that the fellowship of Christian brethren is a gift of grace, a gift of the Kingdom of God that any day may be taken from us.” p. 20<br />
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Thirdly, and most importantly for me in this season, comparing my current experience in community to previous experiences is not helpful. In fact, it is very detrimental. <br />
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“If we do not give thanks daily for the Christian fellowship in which we have been placed, even where there is no great experience, no discoverable riches, but much weakness, small faith, and difficulty; if on the contrary we only keep complaining to God that everything is so paltry and petty, so far from what we expected, then we hinder God from letting our fellowship grow according to the measure and riches which are there for us all in Jesus Christ.” p. 29<br />
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I have failed at this in major ways over the last year. My sinful heart wants the gifts of grace I have received from God in previous seasons of my life as I walk through today’s trials. I have failed to see God as sufficient. I have also placed expectations on others that have made it even more difficult for the community that I desire to grow. I have spent a large part of the last year praying for stability in friendships. It has been a very long time since I have had a prayer partner. I miss the reciprocity and familiarity of those relationships. But instead of trusting God through this rather solitary season, I either tried to force community or retreated in unhelpful ways. In hind sight I see that God was teaching me about his sufficiency. <br />
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Getting away from abstractions, I had some very challenging interactions with men in town last week. These interactions were by no means appropriate, but because I “reacted to the circumstances of life rather than responding to the knowledge of God,” (Lord, I Want to Know You, Kay Arthur) it became a much bigger deal to me than it had to be. I let it get to me in a way that had me doubting my identity in Christ. And my sinful heart led me to interact poorly with my teammates as I struggled. I both sought support from my community in a demanding and sharp way and retreated from what support was available. After three hard days, I took a day to be alone in prayer, reading scripture, and listening to a few sermons from my home church. God met me in a beautiful and loving way that day. The next day, I had some good redemptive conversations with my teammates. I initially reacted out of unbelief, and I did not deserve God’s grace to me in the days that followed, but that’s the heart of the gospel!<br />
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Satan is at work in Mundri, and would like nothing more than to create conflict on our team, to cause me to doubt my identity in Christ, and to lead any one of us to stop following God in the battle. What does this look like? Satan uses my circumstances to accuse me of being inadequate and alone, but God has already won the battle and is victorious in my life. I belong to God, and my identity is secure. God will never leave me or forsake me.<br />
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This morning before I sat down to do write this blog post, do some homework, prepare my lesson for girls’ club, and work on the community questionnaire for my nodding disease study, I decided to listen to a sermon from my home church titled Grace and Peace. Pastor Steve said, “There will never be peace anywhere in the world until grace reigns.” He continues saying “there will never be peace in your heart … until grace reigns.” My first thought was that there will never be any peace on our team until grace reigns. I am still learning a lot about grace, and I am thankful for the opportunity to learn about grace in community with a bunch of other sinful missionaries who minister from weakness.<br />
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“When the message of grace yields the fruit of peace then we possess and wield gospel power” ~ Pastor Steve<br />
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In the end, team life has its challenges, but it also has great rewards. Who wouldn't want to be a part of this crazy community?!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2371876450216257815.post-35654760284926677132013-09-14T03:40:00.001-04:002013-09-14T03:40:30.172-04:00Do No Harm?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After reading <i>Do No Harm</i> by Mary Anderson, our class decided that our book on development would probably be called something more like <i>Do Good... and as little harm as possible</i>.<br />
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Because in research, development, missions, and so many other fields, you are probably going doing to do some harm even with the best intentions. So what to do? Well, if you don't know what to say in Dr. B's class, just raise your hand and say prayerful discernment. It sounds like just another cliche Christian answer, but really that is one of the main lessons I learned at Eastern. In the middle of really complicated, messy, and grey development work, we can enter into a process of prayerful discernment, trust in the guidance of the holy spirit, be humble, do our homework on best practices, keep learning from others, and a bunch of other things, but you get the idea.<br />
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This is more a reminder for myself than anything else, but since lots of people ask me what I read at Eastern and what I learned, here it is for you to consider as well. And I would recommend the book for those interested in development. There is a lot to be gleaned from Mary Anderson's arguments and the case studies she presents. <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2371876450216257815.post-53919833349189429862013-09-13T01:28:00.001-04:002013-09-13T10:00:07.413-04:00Lament, Hope, God’s Sovereignty, and Nodding Disease"The laments are refusals to settle for the way things are. They are acts of relentless hope that believes no situation falls outside Yahweh's capacity for transformation."~ Walter Brueggemann<br />
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"Lament relies on God's sovereignty and not our ability." ~ Soong Chan Rah<br />
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I have been praying a lot about lament, hope, and the sovereignty of God over the last week as I prepare to start a research project on nodding disease. I will be focusing on the cultural perceptions of the disease, but I have also added several of Scott and Heidi’s medical questions to the study. As a grad student, I spent a large part of the last year doing research, but this time instead of sitting in a library reading scholarly articles, I will be sitting with families who have been affected by this horrific disease. <br />
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Let me start by telling you what little is known about nodding disease. It is found only in parts of South Sudan, northern Uganda, and Tanzania, but Mundri town is one of the locations with the highest density of nodding disease cases. It primarily affects children between the ages of 5 and 15. The disease is named after the characteristic head nodding that occurs when the child is presented with food and they are unable to stay awake to eat the food. This leads to malnutrition and wasting. The disease is also characterized by seizures, and anti-seizure medications are often prescribed but have little effect. Some patients who claim to have nodding disease actually have epilepsy or another seizure disorder, but nodding disease patients often have a distinct child-like appearance, a protruding upper lip, and significant mental decline. In most cases, the children were completely normal in appearance and mental capacity prior to the onset of nodding disease symptoms. There is no known cure and researchers do not know the cause of the disease. Some believe it has a genetic component; others link it to river blindness. There is a lot that is not yet understood about nodding disease. <br />
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It is easy to share this basic clinical information about nodding disease, but much harder to share the reality of how nodding disease affects families. Children develop sores on their legs from the chains that are used to tie them to trees so they don’t wander into the river and drown or burn themselves in the fire. Families are ostracized from the community because of the stigma related to the disease. <br />
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And I am not talking about a handful of children and families. It is believed that there are at least 300 children with nodding disease in the greater Mundri area.<br />
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These families have interacted with several researchers in the past who with good intentions have left people feeling like objects to be studied. Researchers come in on an airplane, information is gathered, blood samples are taken, and then the researchers leave the same way they arrived. The results of the research do not often make it back to the families being studied. But the body of research on nodding disease is growing, and that is a good thing. Doing medical research through translators in a rural part of East Africa is complicated to say the least. And thank you, Heidi, for helping me refine my perspective on nodding disease research! One reason why it is good to have teammates. =)<br />
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So now that I have shared that information with you, I ask that you would join me in prayer. Pray my actions and words would reflect my belief that each child with nodding disease is made in the image of God. Pray that I would be able to enter into each family’s grief with both lament for the reality of nodding disease and hope of future glory. Pray that I would enter into the lives of families affected by nodding disease in a way that loves, hopes, laments, affirms dignity. <br />
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In God’s perfect timing, our team’s bible study last week focused on the sovereignty of God, and this week in particular I am thankful for the book of Job and for Joseph who said “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” Genesis 50:20.<br />
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Satan meant nodding disease for evil, but God meant it for good. I have no idea why or how that gives God glory. I will probably never know. But even though my finite human self may not understand the workings of an infinite God, I still trust that it is true. <br />
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I am also thankful for Psalm 88 which cries out to God in prayer, questions, laments, and is an act of worship, but does not turn to praise like the many of the other psalms, because some days lament is all I can manage. <br />
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So as I prepare to interview families who have been affected by nodding disease, I am very seriously asking that you would join me in prayer. <br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2371876450216257815.post-40910703321195432452013-08-29T11:32:00.000-04:002013-08-29T11:32:03.296-04:00Familiar and ChangedFlying over Mundri, I could already see some of the changes that had taken place over the last year and half. There were more tin roofs in town and a lot more organized gardens. The second thing I noticed is that the main road in Mundri is A LOT worse than when I left. <br />
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It is easy to spot the changes, but starting with Bishop who picked us up at the airstrip, I noticed that one thing has definitely not changed, and that is the happy, welcoming greetings of my friends in Mundri. Even as I sit in my room and write this post, I can hear James Wani's familiar happy laugh across the compound. Some things will never change. =)<br />
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Over the next few days I got settled back into daily life in Mundri, greeting friends, slowly remembering Moru and Juba Arabic words and phrases, fixing bikes, making sorghum tortillas, buying food in the market, sweating while biking down the red dirt road, and driving the Land Cruiser or more accurately, stalling multiple times in town on my way to church and developing an audience waiting to see if I would manage to get the car into first gear. In the end a shopkeeper came and parked the car for me. =)<br />
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So many things are familiar, but a lot has also changed. My role on the team has also changed significantly. And so a new season of life in Mundri starts for me. It has been such a blessing to step back into friendships that have survived my long absence, particularly at Mundri Secondary School (MSS). <b> Tomorrow will be my first meeting with the young women who are students at (MSS), so please pray for me as I consider what God would have for our time together each week. </b><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2371876450216257815.post-54541051212639244792013-08-29T07:44:00.000-04:002014-01-14T23:58:21.938-05:00Traveling MerciesThank you so much for your prayers as I traveled!!! Everything that could go right, did go right!<br />
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Here are just a few traveling tidbits:<br />
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I really do dislike packing, but I've honed my skills as I have racked up the frequent flyer miles. And yes, I'm the girl who wheels enormous trunks in the out doors of the supermarket to use the large scale. =)<br />
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After four long flights, I was so happy to be greeted in Uganda by the familiar smiling face of my favorite Ugandan driver, David.<br />
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The next morning six women from the South Sudan team piled into the Hilux and headed to Fort Portal for the weekend to celebrate Bethany's birthday and connect with some of the WHM Uganda team.<br />
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These pictures don't do justice to the stunning beauty of the crater lake and the tea plantation at dusk. <br />
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Even when small things went wrong, God provided little mercies to make it right again. For example, when I realized that my sunglasses were broken, I happened to be standing directly in front of an eye glass shop in Kampala! I was able to get them repaired in about 15 minutes for for about $2. =)<br />
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My week in Uganda was a real blessing, but very busy with lots of travel and errands. I am so happy to be back in South Sudan now, unpacked, and jumping back into the familiar rhythms of life in Mundri!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2371876450216257815.post-72106979102392101922013-08-09T08:46:00.000-04:002013-08-09T08:46:03.817-04:00Out of sight...<div style="text-align: left;">
Out of sight, but hopefully not out of mind. =) </div>
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There are so many truly wonderful things about the missionary life, but it comes with its challenges. In particular, I long for more stability and continuity in my friendships. En masse communication through blogs is great, but the reality is that it is not a substitute for personal connections.<br />
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This desire is by no means unique to missionaries. We were created for relationship. But as I prepare for yet another transition, the obstacles to deep relationship start to feel insurmountable. Time differences and bad internet connections are just the tip of the iceberg. </div>
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And just to give credit where it is due, my family has done a wonderful job at pursuing me and persevering through the obstacles as I move from place to place! In fact, I have often been the one who has failed to put in the work to overcome the obstacles to maintaining friendships across oceans. </div>
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Sitting down over a cup of coffee may not possible, but there are several things that are possible that help me feel less isolated from my friends around the world. Really I just wanted to say that while these suggestions may seem small to you, they make a BIG difference to me when I'm in South Sudan. </div>
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1. Send me actual mail! When the MAF plane lands with our team's mail, there is nothing quite like the joy of finding an unexpected letter or package. Packages can take months to arrive, but letters arrive much faster! Just keep in mind not to include anything that can melt in packages, and if you aren't sure (i.e. dark chocolate), best to put it in a zip-lock bag. =)</div>
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World Harvest Mission</div>
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c/o Christine Olmeda</div>
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PO Box 355</div>
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Arua,Uganda</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm1xpFEw2d4NE6Bmt9IVoDXKxlhyphenhyphenifLWf1l8qGAFzWhbpfQTkmvymE3DfJG5Rvf7B4B5mRUqPi1Cbcp_cKJ0uI9nd-bsBo8fyDaJeIG5rg5SeXdflrMuO6dM2K4DW2S1qgs66v_51nsmQ/s1600/480878_10150849364446081_2114870015_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm1xpFEw2d4NE6Bmt9IVoDXKxlhyphenhyphenifLWf1l8qGAFzWhbpfQTkmvymE3DfJG5Rvf7B4B5mRUqPi1Cbcp_cKJ0uI9nd-bsBo8fyDaJeIG5rg5SeXdflrMuO6dM2K4DW2S1qgs66v_51nsmQ/s400/480878_10150849364446081_2114870015_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Mail can be expensive, but the rest of these options are free!</div>
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2. Send me an email or reply to my prayer letters. Let me know what is going on in your life. You don't need to have big news to write. Send me a link to a news article that made you think of me. Ask me questions, including any questions your kids may have about South Sudan. Send me a quote from a book or sermon that encouraged you. Or just say hi. =)<br />
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3. Comment on my blog or facebook posts. Let me know that you are praying or thinking of me. Let me know your own thoughts! Be a part of the conversation. I love learning from my friends.<br />
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These things can be a huge encouragement to me! I know that I am supported by the prayers of so many people around the world, but sometimes I start to believe the lies that run through my mind and I can begin to think that I've been forgotten. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2371876450216257815.post-31852478736577112632013-08-07T08:18:00.000-04:002013-08-07T08:18:45.785-04:00AT Water Quality Testing: Suggestions Welcome!My week at ECHO reminded me how much I enjoy appropriate technology solutions to problems! <br />
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For the last year, I have been focusing on international development, which I have loved, but there are moments when I have really missed science, engineering, and hands on experimentation. So even though I won't officially be involved with the water ministry when I return to South Sudan, I am thinking experimenting with appropriate technology solutions for water quality testing as a fun side project if I have the time. </div>
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After observing a demonstration of ECHO's biosand filter, my first though was that I wouldn't drink the water. I know how biosand filters work, but the engineer in me wants quality assurance. The same goes for most of the other popular appropriate technology water treatment methods. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_PZ7K_Shqbkr2x4TW4POdmx6-Dl_ds_RSA-cHqPsQYIm_BwsoHBQS0K9RYxrmOwvzCK5cPycp3jgodOJ8w4Ve72C5HSflOp82SZDHR1fwGocg3w7YhpvGmdqM0sSH44Z2v5bl4oiGzBU/s1600/how-a-biosand-filter-works.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_PZ7K_Shqbkr2x4TW4POdmx6-Dl_ds_RSA-cHqPsQYIm_BwsoHBQS0K9RYxrmOwvzCK5cPycp3jgodOJ8w4Ve72C5HSflOp82SZDHR1fwGocg3w7YhpvGmdqM0sSH44Z2v5bl4oiGzBU/s400/how-a-biosand-filter-works.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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So here is my question: </div>
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<b>Does anyone out there know of any appropriate technology solutions for water quality testing? </b></div>
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The research I have seen uses expensive testing techniques and requires a full lab. I'm sure others might have more faith in biosand filters than I do, but if I wouldn't drink the water, I have a hard time recommending it to anyone. I have also seen resources that recommend always using a disinfection tablet in conjunction with biosand filters, which is great if they are consistently available and affordable. If you need to use a disinfection tablet in the end anyway, it seems to me like a biosand filter isn't really necessary since simple sedimentation and filtration would probably be enough to prepare the water for disinfection. So for a lot of reasons, I want to know if there is a way to determine water quality beyond just measuring turbidity that doesn't require sending away samples. </div>
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Ideally the testing could be done with only materials purchased or found in East Africa. </div>
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I welcome any and all resources, suggestions, thoughts, crazy ideas, etc. Send them my way! I haven't done much research on the topic, so maybe the answer to my question is already out there, which would be awesome. No need to reinvent the wheel. I'd love to learn! </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2371876450216257815.post-40087027555295177172013-08-02T22:30:00.003-04:002013-08-02T22:30:32.455-04:00ECHO<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZRI6DiT2R9MhKmQAq1-y2g71jBqLMFziTUqD-yI8L7OTznxCFaGSrZQU2BxXIhMvSxiWTcdS1QSyn76SuBzRn14dzgiG5Z88MYe56Bm18fD6gduzKUOPNfBZvCkf8dsLphKGcPyp2_c/s1600/photo+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZRI6DiT2R9MhKmQAq1-y2g71jBqLMFziTUqD-yI8L7OTznxCFaGSrZQU2BxXIhMvSxiWTcdS1QSyn76SuBzRn14dzgiG5Z88MYe56Bm18fD6gduzKUOPNfBZvCkf8dsLphKGcPyp2_c/s320/photo+%25283%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">I had the opportunity to spend the last week studying tropical agriculture for development at </span><a href="http://echonet.org/" style="text-align: left;">ECHO.</a><span style="text-align: left;"> Here are just a few pictures and quick captions.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJCtVFkDX0eWIMeqEqwOtkQgWZFcuGTZhnNqrmVsYaFKilG2feL2_Mrn43K-Q5ftmSPh2ZVxkON_2QuBQKSI12ilv33eXiO5juqfeedERKcALpa-P-gHKoetm11Yntbd1bu6WNLCep1M/s1600/photo+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJCtVFkDX0eWIMeqEqwOtkQgWZFcuGTZhnNqrmVsYaFKilG2feL2_Mrn43K-Q5ftmSPh2ZVxkON_2QuBQKSI12ilv33eXiO5juqfeedERKcALpa-P-gHKoetm11Yntbd1bu6WNLCep1M/s400/photo+%25282%2529.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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One day for lunch we had a salad that contained 34 ingredients fresh from the global farm! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNJRW1JUW3AjZ2fpgpP16HkueVsdtB_ogxkI5THb5hqtZMk7vj1D7IWE3fFv5QoCBxAYFflG4Os1zqmI-oCwR1vx9hzKjZ8MCJYzPZbjhJc9ljQSRPBdF1R1Gam0yckONEXsh2dnY6wQc/s1600/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNJRW1JUW3AjZ2fpgpP16HkueVsdtB_ogxkI5THb5hqtZMk7vj1D7IWE3fFv5QoCBxAYFflG4Os1zqmI-oCwR1vx9hzKjZ8MCJYzPZbjhJc9ljQSRPBdF1R1Gam0yckONEXsh2dnY6wQc/s320/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Mount Victor at ECHO (elevation 24 feet) demonstrates agricultural techniques that can be used on mountainous terrain. Different sections of the farm are set up as examples of various tropical climates including the climate most similar to South Sudan. </div>
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I learned a lot through the classes, but the best part of the week was connecting with and learning from like-minded individuals. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ZDkMH3PVqmogHP94dLYacEviCK4xNif_6sIBCpIyXxWz8-La31rELrUpIBcEgHjW5RvhH3-XES_86JwF1zk6CWhSHb7fYCeaKTQnguJ-pvL4JcpZ7DhFESMrG63NlxWqTJuX2RQVkMI/s1600/IMG_4604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ZDkMH3PVqmogHP94dLYacEviCK4xNif_6sIBCpIyXxWz8-La31rELrUpIBcEgHjW5RvhH3-XES_86JwF1zk6CWhSHb7fYCeaKTQnguJ-pvL4JcpZ7DhFESMrG63NlxWqTJuX2RQVkMI/s400/IMG_4604.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The global farm was a truly beautiful place to explore as I meandered through the different pathways. =) </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2371876450216257815.post-40761451515733291542013-07-28T21:24:00.000-04:002013-07-28T21:24:18.265-04:00Living in the GreyMy love of the sciences started when I was a little girl. I asked questions that had black and white answers and loved solving problems. I have always been drawn to the beauty of fractals and images with symmetry and structure.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ORsBujUZ1Q7hEt2S5EYtuPaqE2UJ0u7f2cRp2lKd9QL7-_sd9u2Eh_9wd3uN_JDLaLZEktNGGenw2oQaIBXcjHUT0V2MAJBQ6dt0zcduVYX6bZdNb4xcqalQyaTsmFn0KJVLVJVzKP0/s1600/553543_10150977112876081_302054860_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ORsBujUZ1Q7hEt2S5EYtuPaqE2UJ0u7f2cRp2lKd9QL7-_sd9u2Eh_9wd3uN_JDLaLZEktNGGenw2oQaIBXcjHUT0V2MAJBQ6dt0zcduVYX6bZdNb4xcqalQyaTsmFn0KJVLVJVzKP0/s400/553543_10150977112876081_302054860_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My windshield on a cold morning in Richmond</td></tr>
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But from the moment I arrived in East Africa over four years ago, I started to learn to live in the grey and the abstract. It was a slow process, but somewhere in the middle of it all, I became much more comfortable asking the questions that don't always have definite answers. Missions and international development are full of these types questions as is the Christian faith. </div>
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I still have moments when I want everything to have a black and white answer, and I'm continually learning how to live by faith in the grey. It is an ongoing process. Learning to live in the grey does not exclude the scientific method by any means. I still love fractals and solving concrete problems. I just have also come to love discussing questions that have answers that I cannot yet understand or that may not have answers at all.<br />
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This may not much make much sense to you, but if you can relate, then maybe you are one the many friends who has questioned, considered, discussed, and prayed with me in a living room, coffee shop, classroom, or car ride. For these friends I am deeply thankful. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2371876450216257815.post-6796178949487179112013-07-23T22:24:00.000-04:002013-07-23T22:24:25.877-04:00When I Don't TrustSupport raising missionaries talk a lot about trusting in God's provision, and I am no exception. I am so thankful for the record I have of God's provision and the ways he has answered prayers. <br />
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But with three weeks left in the US, an ever increasing number of items on my to-do list, a dying computer that I really can't afford to replace, my support account still over a thousand dollars short of my goal, and more goodbyes on the horizon, trusting in God's provision becomes the thing I say but don't do. I start problem-solving like the engineer that I am with a heart full of doubt. I stop trusting, leave God out of the process, and act independently without asking for help. <br />
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The sinful tendencies of my heart come out in these moments when there is no buffer. It is easier to trust in God's provision when I have plenty of time and savings to fall back on if necessary. Today I listened to a sermon on Habakkuk and was reminded that my version of not having a buffer as an American is no where even close to what is experienced by so many people around the world where God's provision is the difference between life and death. The reality of trusting in God's provision is that God may not answer my prayers or the prayers of Christians around the world. Yet God is always faithful.<br />
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I have experienced God's faithfulness in times of struggle and unanswered prayers in my own life, yet I so easily forget this record. As my pastor pointed out, the stories of God's provision and answered prayers are the ones most often shared by Christians. But if I look back honestly at my own life, each story of God's faithfulness in unanswered prayers has shown me more about the character of God than all the answered prayers combined. <br />
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In these moments when the buffer I have become accustomed to is no longer there, the true state of my heart is exposed. So please pray against my doubt and unbelief. Pray that I would not just say that I am trusting in God, but that my heart would actually trust God with every detail of my last three weeks in the US. Pray that I would remember the ways God has been faithful to me in previous times of struggle, but more than that, pray that I would recognize that my concerns are small and that God is faithful even in death. <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0